Venetian blind



` `VENETIAN BLIND .Filed oon 51, 1934 2 sheetsfsheet 1 fm WMM/W,

Nov. 24, 1936.

W. P. CAMERON 2,061,548

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Oct. 5l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 2.4,1936 UNITED STATES PATENTIo FICE ' 2,061,543 l VENETIAN BLINDApplication October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,897

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds, and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide for blinds of thischaracter an improved and highly practicable form of articulatedintegrating tape.

The invention resides in certain novel structural features hereinafterdescribed in detail, which features function in combination to afford atape of the stated character that is readily and cheaply manufactured,is highly emcient in operation, and possesses the strength andruggedness to withstand indefinitely the at times severe strains towhich' in normal use they are subjected.

In the attached drawings:

Figure l is a sectional perspective View illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detached view in perspective showing the essential elementsof the tape; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective illustrating one of thearticulated joints of the tape;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating another of thearticulated joints, this section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of a blind made inaccordance with my invention in the retracted or collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relation ofcertain elements of the tape in the folded relation;

Fig. 'l is a View in perspective of one of the elements of the tapeillustrated in Figs. l and 5; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modiiied form of slatadapted for use with the tape illustrated in the other drawings.

With reference to the drawings, the tape as illustrated comprises aseries of transverse elements I which support the individual slats 2 ofthe shade, the corresponding extremities of leach adjoining pair of theelements .I being united by means of links 3 and 4. As illustrated inFig. 2, the transverse elements I are provided at each end with a pairof spaced extensions 5 forming sockets for reception of a pin' Ii. Thelink 3 has at its upper end a pair of spaced extensions I formingsockets which in assembly lie intermediate and adjacent to the sockets 5of the transverse element and also embrace the pin 6; while the link 4has at its lower end a single centrally positioned socket extension 3which embraces the pin 6 intermediate the sockets I of the link 3. When,as in the illustrated embodiment, the parts are made of exible materialsuch as metal,

is bent over the outer end of the associatedsocket to therebyretain thepin `6 in position. It will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment,the sockets 5 of the'elements I are offset upwardly from the major planeof theelement; and that both the sockets 1 of the link 3 and the socket8 of the link 4 are similarly offset inwardly from the planes of therespective links.

The link 3 has at its lower end a central socket extension I I, which inassembly embraces a cross bar I2 adjacent the upper end of theassociated link 4. The cross bar I2 defines the lower side of a slottedaperture I3 at the upper end of the link 4; and the cross bar similarlydennes the upper end of a second aperture I4. The latter aperture isformed by pressing out the material of the link, the pressed-out portionI5 forming a tongue extending diagonally from the inner face of thelink, the function of which Iwill be hereinafter explained.

It will be noted that the socket II of fthe link 3 extends through theaperture I3 of the link 4 from the outer face of the latter link andextends outwardly through the aperture I4 so that the upper end of thelink 4 overlaps the lower end of the link 3 on the inside of the latter.In the present instance, each of the links 3 and 4 is provided adjacenteach longitudinal edge with d a stiffening rib, I6, I6 and Il', Ilrespectively, and when the links are extended as shown in Figs. l and 3,the convex sides of these ribs engage each other to thereby maintain thelinks in a predetermined position of angularity. When, however, thelinks are folded as shown in Fig. 6, the ribs Il of the link 4 mate withthe concaved sides of the ribs I6 of the link 3 to permit said links tolie closely together. As a further reinforcing means, the socketextensions 8 and II of the links 4 and 3 respectively may be providedwith pressed-out ribs I8 and I9 respectively, the link 3 being recessedat ZI between the extension l to accommodate the rib I8 ofr the link 4.

Each of the transverse elements I is provided adjacent each end with apair of clip extensions 22, 22 adapted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5to be pressed down against the upper surface of the associated slat 2 tothereby .grip the edges of the slat and to hold it securely in positionupon the transverse elements. It will be noted that the form of thetransverse elements I and of the links 3 and 4 is such that these partsmay be readily stamped from sheet metal.

It is customary in Venetian blinds to form the upper and lower slats ofthe series, designated 2a and 2b in Fig. 1, of greater thickness thanthe others, and as a means for attaching the tape to these slats, Iprovide the transverse elements 23 illustrated in Fig. '7. Theseelements 23, which are adapted to lie against the under face of theupper slat 2a and the upper face of the lower slat 2b, as shown in Fig.l, is provided with apertures 24 for reception of screws 25 securing theelements to the slats. The ends of the element 23 are flanged, and theseflanges 26 embrace the opposite sides of the slats and are secured tosaid slats by screws 2l. At the juncture between the body of theelements 23 and the flanges 26 thereof, said elements are formed withsocket formations 28 for reception of pins 29, these pins being providedat one end with heads and being secured in the elements 23 by rivetingor upsetting the opposite ends in obvious manner, or by other suitablemeans. The pins 29 of the elements 23 associated with the lower Slat 2bare embraced by the socket extensions 8 of the lowermost links 4 of theseries, while the pins 29 of the elements 23 associated with the upperslats 2a are embraced by the socket extensions 1, 'I of the uppermostlinks 3.

In some installations, it is desirable that the shades be provided withvertical guides for the slats, and it is customary when guides arerequired to provide certain slats of the series with guide elements 3|,see Fig. 1, which are attached by suitable means to the opposite4 endsof the slats and which operate in vertical guideways secured to the ixedframe of the window. It is desirable that those of the slats which areprovided with the guide elements 3| be of greater thickness than theother intermediate slats in order to withstand the relatively heavystrains sometimes imposed upon them through the guide means. Such a slatis indicated in Fig. 1 by the reference character 2c.

In order to compensate for this increased thickness of the slats 2c, Iprovide short intermediate links 32, the upper ends of which are formedto correspond with the upper ends of the links 3, being provided withtwo spaced socket extensions 'Ia adapted to embrace the opposite ends ofshort pins extending through the socket extensions 8 of the adjoininglink 4. The lower ends of the links 32 are formed to correspond with thelower ends of the links 4, being provided with a single socket extension8a which embraces the pin 6 associated with the underlying transverseelement I and the adjoining link 3. In order to prevent axialdisplacement of the pin uniting the link 32 with the overlying adjoininglink 4, the said links 32 are provided with projecting lugs or ears 9acorresponding to the lugs 9 of the transverse ele? ments I, which whenfolded down over the outer ends of the socket extensions la of the link32, as shown in Fig. 1, retain the pin in position. The links 32 are ofsuficient length to exactly compensate for the increased thickness ofthe slats 2c with which they are associated.

Each of the slats and each of the transverse elements I and 23 areprovided with registering slotted apertures for passage therethrough ofthe shade-supporting cords 33, and these slots are so dimensioned thatwhen as shown in Fig. 5 the shade is drawn up, the inwardly foldingportions of the links may find clearance within said apertures to permitthe links and the slats to rest in closely nested` relation, asillustrated.

Where metallic slats are required instead of the wooden slats commonlyemployed, I prefer a slat construction of the character shown in Fig. 8.

As therein illustrated, the slats 34 are of fiat tubular constructionand are compressed or recessed as at 35 within the area engaged by thetransverse elements I of the metallic tape. The elements I seat in saidrecesses, and when secured to the slats by means of the clips 22 aspreviously described, are positively held in position with respect tothe tape.

By the foregoing construction, I have provided by a simple inexpensiveprocess of manufacture an extremely durable and efficient tape meetingall the requirements and affording the shades certain highly desirablecharacteristics. The tape for example is extremely compact andunobtrusive and permits the slats, when the shade is elevated, to lierelatively close together. By providing means for securing theindividual slats in the tape structure, I effectively eliminate theundesirable noises and flapping tendencies of the known types ofVenetian blind wherein the slats are heldin position only by therestraining action of the supporting cords 33. While the tape is anarticulated structure composed of interconnected links, it issubstantially free from unshielded apertures through which light maypass, the flange I5 for example functioning in this respect toeffectively shield the opening I4. By articulating the links asdescribed, I have effectively prevented any tendency of the links tobind when either folded or extended, so that the shade is extremely easyto adjust. 'I'he construction also facilitates the operation ofassembling the slats with the tape, and of replacing slats that may bedamaged in use. It will be noted further that the tape may be readilyapplied to shades of the present standard type employing cloth tapes bya simple replacement operation.

'Ihere may be considerable modification without departure from theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising aplurality of transverse slet-supporting elements each connected toanother at the opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connectedlinks, said transverse elements being formed from sheet metal and eachcomprising a pair of longitudinal spaced side bars jointly constitutinga seat for said slat, transverse bars extending between and connectingsaid side bars, the last-named bars being extended at each end beyondthe transverse bars and said extensions being formed intopintle-receiving sockets, and a pair of flexible clips adjacent each endof the Slat-supporting element at the outer edges of the side barsrespectively and integral with the latter and adapted to grip the edgesof said slat to secure the latter to the element, and pintle pinsmounted in said sockets and constituting the connecting means betweenthe Slat-supporting elements and said links.

2. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising aplurality of transverse slet-supporting elements each connected toanother at the opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connectedlinks, each of said transverse elements having spaced pintle-receivingsockets at each end thereof, the one link of a pair having spaced pintlesockets intermediate and respectively adjoining the sockets of theassociated element, and the contiguous link of the next adjoining pairhaving a pintle socket intermediate the sockets of the Erst-named link,and a pintle extending through all of said sockets and pivotally unitingsaid transverse element and links.

3. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising aplurality of transverse Slat-supporting elements, and means including apair of pivotally connected links for uniting the ends of each of saidelements to the corresponding ends of the adjoining higher element,vsaidlinks being adapted to fold inwardly between the slats upon each otherwhen the slats are brought together, certain of said uniting meanscomprising also an extension link pivotally connectedl both to the lowerone of said elements and to the adjoining link of said pair to therebyaccommodate the said uniting means to slats of extra thicknesspermitting the said inward folding of said links as described.

4. In a Venetianblind, a ladder comprising a plurality of transverseSlat-supporting elements,

and means including a folding pair of pivotally connected links foruniting the ends of each of said elements to the corresponding ends ofthe adjoining elements, certain of said uniting means comprising also anextension link pivotally connected to the outerend of one of the linksof said pair, said elements being severally adapted to support slats,the slats associated with the supporting elements to which are connectedthe said extension links being of greater thickness than the otherslats.

' 5v. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprisinga series of transverse slat .supporting elements each connected toanother at opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connected links,a terminal transverse element of said series comprising angularlyprojecting slat retaining flanges adapted to embrace the side edges ofthe associated slat, and having sockets formed at the juncture betweensaid transverse element and said angularly projecting flanges. WILLIAMP. CAMERON.

